Friends and Family

Miroku had found them a comfortable place to stay. The headman's house actually was occupied by a few demons. He and Sango took care of them, allowing Inuyasha and Kagome sometime to rest. It was just after dinner and they were all together talking.

"You're looking much better Kagome. Has your strength come back?" The first two days she'd done nothing but sleep while Inuyasha held her.

"Yes finally. I should be as good as new in another few days." Kagome was sitting between Inuyasha's legs.

"You sure you don't want to go home? I'll take you…" He stopped when shook her head.

"No Inuyasha, I'll be fine. We need to keep searching for Naraku. Defeating him means too much to all of us to put it off just so I can go home." She was thinking of Kikyo. Kikyo had lost Inuyasha and about the only thing that could bring her peace now was to kill the demon who ruined her life.

Smack! "Myoga! Where have you been?" The flea fell to the floor before popping up again to sit in Kagome's hand.

"Oh, just checking out the village. Lot's of lovely ladies around here, wouldn't you agree monk?"

"Why yes there are. Ouch! Sango!" Miroku rubbed the hand she'd just pinched. "All I did was look! Not once did I flirt with any of them. There's nothing wrong with looking is there?"

"I don't know. Where exactly were you looking? At their faces or their bottoms!" Sango asked sternly but her eyes were dancing merrily.

Miroku too was enjoying this; it was time to let the tension of the last few days go. "You mean I can only look at faces? What if a woman is standing in front of me, bending over and I can't help but look? Come on Sango, have a heart!"

"Come on Kirara, things are about to get silly in here. Let's sleep outside." The two little demons were smiling as they left the room.

Kagome laughed at her friends. Those two were getting closer day by day, she was happy for them but one friend was absent and hurting – Koga. She knew he cared for her but she hadn't really believed that he'd loved her. His feeling were hurt but she was sure he'd get over them soon enough. Kagome hoped he'd come around soon so that she could thank him, he was a very good friend and she didn't want to loose him.

"What'cha thinking about?" Inuyasha wanted to know. He tangled his fingers with hers.

"What good friends we have." Sango and Miroku looked over at them. "Thanks you guys for taking such good care of me. And you Myoga, you really came through for us by waking Inuyasha." Kagome praised the flea.

"Thank you, I do deserve a lot of credit for saving the day. Lord Inuyasha couldn't break the spell on his own. Besides I got a tasty snack." Myoga patted his stomach, generating more laughs.

"You did good Myoga. Glad it wasn't a battle or we'd all be dead." Inuyasha joined in.

"First you thank me then you make fun of me! Hmph, I'm going to find a more pleasant place to rest tonight. Too bad you can't join me monk!" Myoga popped up and out of the room.

"He really was a big help this time."

"Yeah, sometimes the old guy is useful." Inuyasha smiled. They grew quiet for a moment. "Oh, what happened with Kohaku? Man, it seems like that was weeks ago instead only a few days."

Sango lost her smile. "Well obviously he's not here with me but for a moment he let me hold him." She reached for Miroku's hand.

"I really think he's trying to resist Naraku. He knew Sango's face. I believe Naraku tried to get him to attack us but he ran off instead."

"Kohaku's still scared to remember what happened to father and the others but maybe he's ready to be more than Naraku's puppet.

Kagome leaned forward and took her other hand. "He'll come back to you Sango, you're his family. We all are."

Sango started to cry then laughed. "Here we are trying to cheer you up and you cheer me instead." She squeezed Kagome's hand. "Thanks guys."

"Geez, can we get any sappier in here?" Inuyasha moved to get Kagome's bag. "How about we play one of those card games of Kagome's?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Sure." The four settled close together and began playing cards, talking, laughing and enjoying being together.

Outside in the dark shadows Kikyo was able to see them. Inuyasha couldn't be hers yet she couldn't let him go completely. Even if watching him from a distance was all she was allowed – she'd take it. Envy was just one of the many emotions she felt as she saw the fun they were having. Sighing she turned away, maybe things would change, once Naraku was gone.

Well I hope you enjoyed reading this fic as much as I did writing it. Only thing is I had planned on a love scene but it didn't seem right at the time so I promise to add one or two in the next fic. Don't look for it too soon though, it's still in the early stages.

If you read this far, I thank you and hope you'll give me a review and tell me how I did. Until next time!